Commitment - Amrit Ceremony
The initiationA rite of passage marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. ceremony for joining the KhalsaThe Sikh community, literally 'the community of the pure'. Refers particularly to initiated Sikhs. is set out in the Rahit MaryadaAlternate spelling: Rehat Maryada. The Sikh Code of Conduct..
Amrit sanskar is a ceremony of initiation into the Khalsa. The candidate may be an adolescent but is more frequently an adult. The ceremony is conducted by five initiated Sikhs (known as the Panj PyareThe five beloved ones. Those first initiated into the Khalsa; those who perform the rite today. or 'five loved ones') who wear traditional white, yellow/orange or dark blue clothes, and all have the five KsFive articles which identify a Sikh who has been initiated into the Khalsa.. The Sikh principles which the candidates for initiation must observe from now on are explained. The amritNectar. Sanctified (holy) liquid made of sugar and water, used in initiation ceremonies. is stirred while certain passages of scripture are recited. Each candidate receives amrit in his or her cupped hands to drink and then amrit is sprinkled on each candidate’s hair and eyes. Then they all sip amrit in turn from one iron bowl. They all recite the Mool Mantra(Mool Mantar or Mul Mantra) The basic statement of belief that appears at the beginning and throughout the Guru Granth Sahib. five times.
As a collective body, initiated Sikhs have the status of GuruCan mean God, teacher or guide. Usually means a teacher of religion. In Sikhism, it also refers to the ten human messengers of God.. This was demonstrated when they were able to give orders to Guru Gobind SinghGuru Gobind Singh was the tenth and final Sikh Guru. He established the Khalsa and completed the Guru Granth Sahib, the most important Sikh holy book.. At the Battle of ChamkaurBattle fought between the Khalsa led by Guru Gobind Singh and the Mughal forces led by Wazir Khan in December 1705., they ordered Guru Gobind Singh to leave, to save his life.
Members of the Khalsa are permitted to carry out any function in a gurdwaraSikh place of worship. Literally, the 'doorway to the Guru'..
Anybody who demonstrates commitment to maintaining the necessary discipline can be admitted to the Khalsa at any age but not usually before adolescence.
Features of the Amrit Ceremony
- Prayers and readings from the Guru Granth SahibThe Guru Granth Sahib is the most important Sikh holy book. It is a collection of songs, prayers and hymns from the Sikh Gurus and other holy men, as well as teachings from other faiths. It is treated as a living Guru., then one of the Panj Piare explains the demands of being a Sikh to the initiates present.
- The new candidates for initiation have to agree to becoming members of the Khalsa and they have to wear the Five Ks.
- The Panj Piare then prepare amrit.
- The candidates kneel on one knee.
- They are given amrit to drink and it is sprinkled in their eyes and on their hair. This routine is repeated five times. After each turn they are prompted to repeat the Sikh Greeting 'Sri Waheguruji ka Khalsa, Sri Waheguruji ki Fateh': 'The Khalsa belongs to the Waheguru, victory belongs to the Waheguru'.
- The rules of the Khalsa are explained to them; breaking the rules may lead to punishment from the Order.
- The Anand SahibMay be translated as Song of Bliss or as the Happiness hymn. 'Anand' means bliss or happiness. 'Sahib' means 'respected one'. is sung.
- A prayer of thanks for the naming ceremony is made.
- Existing Khalsa members distribute Karah PrashadSanctified food ( a sweet pudding made from wheat flour, sugar, clarified butter and water) distributed at Sikh ceremonies. to the new members of the Khalsa.